Royal expert and author Robert Hardman has opened up about his various encounters with the Royal Family over the past three decades and why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was always different
A royal expert has opened up about his various encounters with senior members of the Royal Family — and said two things made Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stand out from the rest.
The disgraced former prince is now living in Marsh Farm after being booted out of Royal Lodge having lived there since 2003.
Further troubling revelations about his association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, along with his arrest in February under suspicion of misconduct in public office, have further cast him astray from his family.
But Robert Hardman, who has now written a new biography about the late Queen Elizabeth II, has said Andrew was always different.
He said his encounters with him were a contrast to what it was like being in the company of his nephews, parents and siblings.
Royal commentator and author Robert, 60, who has covered 70 tours from Abu Dhabi to Ukraine, said: “Philip was fascinating and sharp — you really had to keep your wits about you. Ditto Charles. The Princess Royal is fabulous — I’ve followed her around and could barely keep up. William and Harry can effortlessly work a room, charming everyone and putting them at ease.”
And speaking to the Sunday Telegraph about his dealings with Andrew, he continued: “But Andrew just isn’t as intelligent or as articulate as the others. As trade envoy, he was forever saying disobliging things and putting his foot in it.
“He’d be at a telecoms conference and suddenly come out with the line, ‘What is Orange?’”
Robert’s new biography is called Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside story — and it is his sixth book about the royals.
He spoke about the Queen a century after her birth and claimed it was her who first wanted her son to move out of Royal Lodge.
Robert said she “believed him” when he claimed he had cut ties with Epstein before his lies were eventually exposed and King Charles removed the titles he was granted at birth.
As for the Queen not being alive for this, Robert added: “I think one of the blessings in all this is that the Queen wasn’t around to live through the final degradation, and the brutal disgrace of a royal having their ‘princedom’ taken away.”
The broadcaster and journalist also revealed why the Queen had an “instinctive sympathy” for the “spare” Prince Harry.
He said she “always adored” her grandson and added that her father, who was suddenly led to the throne after the abdication of his brother, was a spare, as was her sister, Margaret, who she often defended.
Robert, who has reported on royals for over 30 years, claimed she was “conscious” that both Harry and Andrew had “clearly less defined roles” simply because they were the second sons.
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